Sewing-machine attachment



May 26, 1953 B. A. TAYLoR 2,639,682

' SEWING-MACHINE ATTACHMENT Filed Sept. 8, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l l l I I I l l Barn/:ardt A. Tay/or IN VEN MR.

May 26, 1953 B. A. TAYLOR 2,639,682

' SEWING-MACHINE ATTACPNENT Filed sept. s.' 195o 2 sheets-sheet 2n Fig . Ta lor u n 82 Barnhardl A y JNVENmR. s

6 so BY www 3%,

Patented May 26,'Y 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE l 2,639,682 SEWING-MACHINE ATTACHMENT Barnhardt A. Taylor, Columbia, S. C., assignor to The Greist Manufacturing Company,

New

Haven, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application September 8, 1950, Serial No. 183,825

10 Claims.

be used to sew the button in place, the throw or travel of the button during the operation being equal to the distance between a pair oi holes in the button adapted to receive the attaching thread.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which will carry out the above mentioned operation and wherein the button is securely held against shifting relative to the oscillating lever, so that accurate registration of the button is maintained after the same has been properly set, thus avoiding breakage of the sewing machine needles.

Another object of this invention is to provide adapters which can be used with a buttonholer attachment of the type disclosed in the patent issued to Almquist under No. 2,482,607, whereby said buttonholer attachment is converted to a button sewing attachment means.

And a last object to be mentioned specically is to provide a device of the character mentioned above which is relatively inexpensive and practicable to manufacture, which is simple and safe to use, and which will give generally efficient durable service.

With these objects definitely in view, this invention resides in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of elements and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail in the specification, particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and illusu trated in the accompanying drawings which form a material part of this application, and in which:

Figure 1 is a view, in perspective, of the complete button attachment means, ready to be secured in place on a sewing machine;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional View taken substantially on the line 3-3 in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of an insert member comprising part of the pivot means for connecting one pair of theviirst and second levers hereinafter described;

Figure 5 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the insert member shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a view, in perspective, of the button holder; f

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the button holder;

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 8-8 in Figure 7 and Figure 9 is a fragmentary plan view of a section of sheet material with a button secured thereon by threads, in the normal use of this invention.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional view on line IEl--I li of Fig. 2.

Similar characters of reference designate similar or identical elements and portions throughout the specication and throughout the different views in the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, this invention includes apparatus similar to a buttonholer attachment of the character illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, although the specic buttonholer structure illustrated need not be employed in this invention, and the following description will, therefore, relate to the essential elements of any such vsewing machine attachment to be used with the adapters illustrated separately in Figures 4 8. The essential elements include a frame comprised of an attachment clamp Il] whereby the device may be secured to the pressure bar of:

a conventional sewing machine, a base plate I2 which may have upraised lateral flanges I4, bearing blocks i6 for a transverse shaft I8, and an actuating arm 28 freely pivoted at one end on the shaft I8 and bifurcated at the other end 22 to straddle the needle clamp. A spring biased pawl 2A is pivotally mounted on the arm 20 and engages a ratchet 28 to drive the rotary cam 28 with an intermittent motion as the needle clamp is moved in Vertical reciprocation.

A cam follower 30 is mounted on a first lever 32 which is pivoted on the base plate I2 by what Will be hereinafter referred to as pivot means 34. The first lever 32 carries the pin 36 having a reduced lower terminal 38 extending beneath the first lever 32 and, through the agency of the insert member 10 hereinafter described more fully, connects the i'lrst lever 32 with the second lever 39. It will be noted that the levers 32 and 39 each move about a vertical axis, the second lever 39 being mounted on the pivot pin 40. In other words, one pair of ends of the first and second levers 32 and 39 are pivotally secured together. The pivot pin 48 is carried on a member 42 which is slidable longitudinally of the plate I2, this member 42 having an arm portion with teeth 44 55 engageable with a ange portion 48 of a fixed aceacsc l,

plate 50, when the member 42 is manually shifted by a handle 46 rigidly mounted thereon and eX- tending laterally of the device. A coil spring 52 is compressed between a portion of the member 42 and a washer 5d secured to the upper end Cf the pivot pin lill, so that this pivot pin is biased upwardly while allowing the member d2 to be shifted so that the teeth llt selectively engage the ilange portion 33. An elongated slot 56 is provided in the plate l2 for the lower end portion 0f the pivot pin 463 it will be understood that adjustment of the member t2 longitudinally of the plate I2 will cause an increase and decrease of the throw of the end 58 of the second lever 39 remote from the pin 3E.- This last mentioned end of the second lever 3s is bifurcated and extends substantially beneath the bifurcated end 22 of the arm 2li, the iurcations carrying laterally extending trunnions @il upon which a centrally apertured plate 62 is pivotally mounted, as best shown in Figure V2, the central aperture of the plate 62 being shown at te, and this plate ordinarily having upraised side banges into which the trunnions Ell are inserted.

A plate Bil is pivoted` as indicated at Sl upon the main framework or" the device, and this plate 66 carries a leaf spring Sli which urges the insert member 'lll upwardly into position in an aperture 'I8 provided in the second lever The insert member l is provided with a flange l2 which g,

limits the upward movement of the insert relative to the apertured second lever 3S, so that this sert nts beneath the first lever and a slightly elongated recess l@ is provided in the upper face of the insert member lc, together with a larger recess lil, arranged coaxially therewith to accom.- modate a ratchet wheel il conventionally provided in devices of this character, although this ratchet wheel l'l is not functional with the instant invention. The aperture '8 in the second lever 3S has already been mentioned, this aperture being dimensioned and shaped to receive the insert lvsnugly.

The adapters used with the structure described in some detail above include the insert member lil and the buttcnholder illustrated in detail in Figures 6, 7 and 8 and illustrated as used in Figures 564 of the member S2. The buttonholder may be slid' longitudinally of the plate member t2, with the flanges 8S sliding along the aperture 64, as clearly indicated in Figure 2.

The operation of this invention will be clearly understood from a consideration of the foregoing description of the mechanical details thereof, taken in connection with the drawings and with the above recited objects. ln recapitulation, and by way of still further explanation, a button Sil,

' having at least one pair 'of holes SZ'can be sewn .by thread 9:3 onto sheet material or fabric 9S,

using the conventional sewing machine, with this attachment secured thereon. The button ill! is shown in position in the buttonholder, in Figure 2. The arm 28 causes the cam 28 to rotate intermittently and vthe-cam follower 30 actuates the iirst lever 32 and reciprocates the pin 36 with its reduced end 38 extending into the member 10 and causing reciprocation of the second lever 39. The insert member 'lll does not move longitudinally of the plate I2, but the throw of the 'second lever 39 can be adjusted by moving the pivot pin 40 by means of the handle 56, thus permitting use 0f the device with buttons having differently spaced holes 92. The buttonholder may be moved along the opening Si of the plate 62 so that a second pair of holes in a button may be used without difficulty.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1, A sewing machine attachment for attaching buttons having two or more apertures, comprising a supporting frame, a first and a second lever, pivot pins to mount said levers on said frame for oscillatory movement about vertical axes, pivot means connecting one pair of ends of said levers, means to oscillate the first lever and thereby effect oscillation of said second lever, a clothengaging foot carried by said second lever, and a buttonholder removably secured to said foot t0y oscillate therewith.

2. A sewing machine attachment for attaching' buttons having two or more apertures, comprising a supporting frame, a first and a second lever, pivot pins to mount said levers on said frame fOl oscillatory movement about vertical axes, pivot means connecting one pair of ends of said levers, means to oscillate the rst lever and thereby effect oscillation of said second lever, a clothengaging foot carried by said second lever, and buttonholder removably secured to said foot t0 oscillate therewith, one of said pivot pins being shiftable longitudinally of the second lever to adjust the transverse throw of said one end so that buttons having differently spaced holes may be accommodated.

3. A. sewing machine attachment for attaching buttons having two or more apertures, comprising a supporting frame, a rst and a second lever, pivot pins to mount said levers on said frame for oscillatory movement about vertical axes, pivot means connecting one pair of ends of said'levers, means to oscillate the iirst lever, and a buttonholder removably secured to one end o1 the second lever to oscillate therewith, said second lever having a portion with an opening at said one end, said buttcnholder comprising a plate having a central aperture registering with said opening, upraised members on the plate and engaging said lever at the sides of said opening, said plate having a recess on the underside thereof registering vertically with said central opening and adapted to receive a button.

4. An attachment according to claim 3, and wherein said plate has opposed outwardly and upwardly extending handles.

5. An attachment according to claim l and wherein said button holder is adjustable longitudinally of the second lever.

6. Cooperating adapters for a buttonholer attachment having a frame and a first and a second lever mounted thereon for oscillatory movement with pivot means connecting one pair `of ends of said levers and a feeding foot on the second lever, one of said adapters comprising' means to hold said second lever against movement longitudinally of the frame during operation, and the other adapter comprising a button holder secured to said feedingfoot.

7 An attachment accordingr to claim 1 wherein said pivot means for connecting thelevers comprises an insert removably connected to the second lever, and said insert is provided with an opening to receive a pinion carried by the first lever.

8. A sewing machine attachment comprising a supporting frame, a lever pivotally mounted on the frame, means for oscillating said lever, a second lever pivoted on the frame and connected to the rst lever to be oscillated thereby, said connection including a shaft on said first lever having a pinion thereon and a member removably secured to the second lever provided with an opening having a smooth interior Wall freely receiving said pinion to permit idle rotation of the pinion, and a button holder carried by said second lever to be oscillated thereby.

9. A sewing machine attachment comprising a supporting frame, a lever pivotally mounted on the frame, means for oscillating said lever, a second lever pivoted on the frame and connected to the rst lever to be oscillated thereby, said connection including a shaft on said first lever having a pinion thereon and a member removably secured to the second lever provided with an opening having a smooth interior wall freely receiving said pinion, said second lever having an opening therein, and said member comprising an insert removably received in said last-named opening, and a button holder carried by said second lever to be oscillated thereby.

10. A sewing machine attachment comprising a supporting frame, a lever pivotally mounted on the frame, means for oscillating said lever, a second lever pivoted on the frame and connected to the rst lever to be oscillated thereby, said connction including a shaft on said rst leverv having a pinion thereon and a member removably secured to the second lever provided with an opening having a smooth interior wall freely receiving said pinion, a button holder carried by said second lever adjacent the end thereof, and means for adjusting the pivot on said second lever longitudinally of the frame to vary the amplitude of oscillations of the second lever.

BARNHARDT A. TAYLOR.

No references cited. 

